Marty Lobdell
Staff Writer

People with power are generally viewed as desirable partners. This becomes an issue on many college campuses. Although student faculty affairs may be more Hollywood fiction than reality, there is no doubt that crushes on faculty and faculty crushes on students are fairly common.

Why are students attracted to faculty? They have power, since they administer grades. They have expertise and knowledge, which are strong attractants. Moreover, many faculty are empathic and understanding when students have questions or concerns.

Why is faculty attracted to students? Students are often younger and physically attractive. They seem awed by the teacher’s presence. And, let’s face it, it feels good to have someone nearby who thinks you are like a god or goddess.

Because there is a power differential between faculty and students, most feel it is improper for faculty to get involved in intimate relationships with students. Nonetheless, this author knows of several instances where a couple first met in a classroom and later married. There are also horror stories. For example, there are professors who make a habit out of selecting and then grooming a student for an affair. Once the affair grows cooler the student is dumped which can cause a great deal of pain and a desire to retaliate. A student may also claim that the professor sexually harassed him/her. This will likely cause a sudden drop in one’s career trajectory.

There are numerous risks involved in student/faculty affairs. For example, grades may be improperly assigned. Other students may pick-up on the affair and feel that the student didn’t truly earn the grade given or that their own grades were diminished because they didn’t have an affair.

Note: if one can show that he or she was harmed because another person gave sexual favors, he or she has grounds for a sexual harassment complaint.

Faculty members may also be hurt if they find that the student seduced them merely to demonstrate their prowess. If one thinks about it, most affairs end rather quickly.

The end can be peaceful but it can also be filled with pain and/or dire career consequences for the professor as well as the student. For example, faculty may retaliate by writing unflattering letters of recommendation to universities or employers.

Where do colleges stand on this issue? Some colleges are mute while others have a strict policy of no dating between students and faculty.

Typically, violations of such policies result in an ethics charge. Such charges may or may not result in termination. Pierce College does not have a formal policy on faculty/student relationships. If a complaint were made it could be addressed under the sexual harassment policy or the “conduct unbecoming of a professional” portion of the faculty contract.

Which of the above would depend upon the circumstances of the relationship.

Moreover, Washington state law prohibits intercourse between supervisors, e.g., teachers, and anyone under eighteen-years-of-age to whom they are not married. If one peruses the internet, occasionally there is a piece by someone who advocates or endorses sexual relationships between faculty and students.

However, the vast majority of writings point out the inherent risk and strongly advise against it. While we are on the topic, the media disclosures of several trysts suggest it is unwise to have affairs with the President of the United States, members of Congress, or high-ranking military officers.